Qui-Gon Jinn Meets the Sisterhood

--Much to His Chagrin--

by Alice J. Capen

(takes place about four years prior to 'The Phantom Menace')

~

	Even Jedi are entitled to rest, and the past two days were relaxing for the

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi.  They did not go

anywhere or do anything special; they simply read, studied, or "floated"

around Coruscant and visited museums or the cinema or where ever their fancy

took them.  Not always together, but not often apart.

	At the moment, the both of them were at a comfortable cafe, at a table next

to a sun-filled window where they could watch the scenery and passersby.

Obi-Wan had in front of him, a garden salad with tender pieces of grilled

meat and a glass of ice water.  Qui-Gon was happy with a smallish hot loaf

of sour dough bread with butter and a glass of iced tea.

	Qui-Gon Jinn had been Obi-Wan's teacher, mentor and friend since Obi-Wan

was twelve; the age when Yoda decided that it was time for Obi-Wan to

advance his training as a Jedi.

	That was years ago, and the contentment they had with each other's

friendship now was such that neither felt the need to impress the other with

small talk or witticism, and they were, for the most part, contemplatively

silent as they looked out the window and ate.

	Mace Windu's voice interrupted the serenity.

	"Qui-Gon, your services are needed."

	Qui-Gon took out his intercom.  "What's up?"

	"You know that outlaw band called 'The Sisterhood'?"

	"Yes."

	"It's been confirmed that they're holding the mining colonists hostage in

the Tahnis System and we've been asked to route them out."

	Qui-Gon scowled.  "Why can't the colonists get themselves out of that

situation?  Aren't they armed?  Are they helpless?"

	Windu answered,  "Yes, they're armed, but under the present circumstances

they're helpless. 

They're a relatively small group of miners, and they're not really trained

for combat.  And 'The Sisterhood' outnumbers them -- it's been estimated

about 3 to 1."

	"Is there a government nearby that can help?"

	Sighing, Windu replied, "Yes, but the Sän government claims that it's out

of their jurisdiction and says their hands are tied.  It's based on an

ancient war treaty that was never amended."

	"So that means they can't help their neighbor?" asked Qui-Gon.

	"That's what it means." said Windu.

	Obi-Wan rolled his eyes to the ceiling.  Qui-Gon gave his padawan a wry smile.

	Qui-Gon spoke into his intercom.  "O.K. We'll be at the Temple in a shake

of a tail."

	Obi-Wan wolfed down the rest of his salad.  Qui-Gon put away his intercom.

He tucked his butter into his bread and wrapped it in a napkin.  "I'll eat

this later."  He quickly drank the rest of his tea, then the both of them

left the cafe.

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	In the Conference Room at the Jedi Temple, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were briefed

on the short history of the Tahnis System: how it had only one inhabitable

planet -- but barely -- suitable only for mining -- it was rich in metals;

how a Denebian named Xeglin Tahnis legally claimed the planet over a

thousand years ago, and that the Tahnis family sold it to a mining company

two hundred years ago.....

	Obi-Wan wondered to himself why the historic knowledge of the insignificant

planet was even necessary, especially if all he and his master were going to

do is kick out a bunch of hooligans.  But he also knew it was standard

procedure.

	.....and that the company is now being held hostage by a band of outlaws

for an unknown reason.  'The Sisterhood' didn't seem to be interested in any

actual claim jumping, and they weren't stealing anything except food and

drink.  But they've stopped the mining and production completely.

	When the briefing was over, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan left for their quarters to

prepare for the journey.

	There were many people who worked at the Temple who were not Jedi.  Some

were service workers, some were academic educators for the "Three R's and

sciences" education of the little crumb-crunchers who will be future Jedi,

along with Jedi like Yoda who teaches them the ways of the Force, others

were pilots whose often hazardous duty it was to transport Jedi to where

ever they were needed.

	Two such pilots were Zen and Teilor whose latest assignment was to

transport the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to the little-known

Tahnis System.  Their transport ship Brianna was equipped with defense

weaponry as well as the pilots themselves.

	They were doing the pre-flight test when the two Jedi walked on board.  The

pilots gave them salutations, then verified their destination with them.

After the Jedi settled themselves in, the ship lifted off into space.

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	It had been a better part of a Standard day by the time the Brianna neared

the Tahnis System.

	After Zen read the console, he spoke to Qui-Gon.  "Sir, there is nothing

indicating the presence of a large band of outlaws, their ship, or any other

undue activity."  That was a perfunctory report, of course.  Zen knew well

that the absence of signals or transmissions did not mean the absence of an

entity.

	"Proceed with caution." said Qui-Gon.

	The Brianna entered the system in silence; it's cloaking shield on.

	Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan reached out with their Force senses, searching.  And

they found it.  It was quite typical -- people not understanding the ways of

the Force always think it's sufficient to try to hide themselves using

technology.  Always being surprised that they're found and caught.

	Further probing revealed two different mind-sets:  those of the miners, and

those of 'The Sisterhood'.  There was an interesting feeling coming from

'The Sisterhood'.  Something that neither Qui-Gon nor Obi-Wan could quite

figure out.

	To prevent 'The Sisterhood' from being warned of their landing, the two

Jedi used a shuttle and exited out of the Brianna, leaving the larger ship

hovering above standard orbit.  Using the shuttle's own cloaking shield, the

Jedi evaded detection as they sought a good place to land.

	To their puzzlement, they found a number of docking bays and landing pads

empty, unguarded and apparently safe.  The only ships they found were cargo

ships parked beside the loading docks.

	Obi-Wan spoke:  "Aside from the fact that we, through the Force, know 'The

Sisterhood' is here, it would look, to anybody coming in, that there's

nothing amiss."

	"Except for the fact that there doesn't seem to be any activity around the

loading docks or anywhere else.  And that unto itself is suspicious."

observed Qui-Gon.

	In a short while, Obi-Wan said, "I sense a trap.  I have the feeling that

they know we're here."

	Qui-Gon acknowledged his padawan's comment.  He had the same feeling.  And

it was growing stronger.

	They landed the shuttle in an enclosed docking bay after checking it out

for any unwanted presence.  Upon exiting the little ship, they used the

combination of the ship's technology and the Living Force to erect a force

shield around the shuttle to effectively prevent any tampering.  Then they

cautiously left the docking bay.

	The long and winding halls were very quiet except for the white noise of

the humming of power supply and air circulation with a low, steady thumping

underlying it.

	For about 15 minutes they explored, after which the feeling of impending

danger and entrapment slammed the Force senses.

	"Damn!"  They know we're here.  They know where we are." breathed Obi-Wan

to his master.

	"Steady." soothed Qui-Gon.  "Don't let the feeling of apprehension overtake

you."

	Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon, comforted by his master's presence.

	They continued walking.

	A sudden small noise down a corridor snapped their attention.  Qui-Gon

stopped walking, crossed his arms, shook his head and smiled.  Obi-Wan

looked at him.

	"Predictable." said Qui-Gon.  "Always the same.  Always predictable."

	"Didn't you teach me to not assume anything?" asked Obi-Wan.

	"Yes.  But how many variables have you yet encountered that involved bait

and entrapment?"

	Obi-Wan thought about their past adventures.

	Qui-Gon continued.  "We walk through a lonely place, we hear a

deliberately-made noise of some kind, we investigate -- boom! we're

attacked.  Predictable.  And they always think they're being unique."

	"Like soap opra characters getting amnesia?" asked Obi-Wan.

	"Yes."  Qui-Gon looked at his padawan with an accusing smile.  "How do you

know about soap opra characters?"

	Obi-Wan lightly blushed.  "Oh, it's just something I've heard about."

	The noise sounded again down the corridor.

	"They're getting impatient." said Obi-Wan.  "Shall we fulfill their dreams

and take the bait?"

	"Let us not be predictable.  Let's skirt around and let the Force direct us

rather than the noise."

	They continued their exploration, ignoring the corridor with the noise.

When it was apparent that the Jedi were not going to investigate that

specific corridor, the noise sounded again from there, but much louder.

	The feeling of annoyance from their intending captors reached the Jedi.

And even Obi-Wan had to smile.

	They walked on for a while more.

	"We're about to meet somebody." prophesized Qui-Gon.

	Sure enough, when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan rounded a corner, a man in miner's

clothing was walking down the hall toward them.  He had a deeply worried

countenance.  He slowed his walk when he saw them, then eventually stopped

and stood while the two Jedi walked toward him.  The miner had grasped a bit

of fabric on the front of his overalls and was twisting it nervously.  The

Jedi stopped in front of him.

	In an anxious voice, the miner asked, "Hhh-har you Jedi?"

	"Yes." said Qui-Gon,  "We've been sent here because of some trouble this

colony has been having with a band called 'The Sisterhood'".

	"Yes.  Good." the miner twisted the fabric more.  "My b-boss wants to see

you in his office."  He pointed his hand in the direction from where he

came.  It's a trap!  It's a trap!  It's a trap! thought the miner, hoping

that the Jedi could read his mind.  He's heard about such things.

	The miner was startled when thought-words touched his mind through his

forehead.

	<Yes, we know.  But we're here to help you.>

	"Lead on." said Qui-Gon with his voice.

	With a hopeful face somewhat paled by his telepathic experience, the miner

turned and led the way.

	There was no need for Qui-Gon to tell his padawan to be ready for action.

Obi-Wan was experienced.

	The trio were walking down a dimly lit curving hall when doors from either

side of them suddenly opened, and out ran several women of several species

armed with rifle blasters.  The women quickly surrounded the men and

smiling, aimed their weapons at them.

	"Ohhh!!  These ones are hunks!" crooned one of the humans.  "Make sure your

blasters are on 'stun', girls.  We don't want to hurt the cutie-pies."  She

looked at the miner, and said in a more authoritative voice, "You may go now."

	The miner gave the Jedi an apologetic look, then walked out of the circle

of women and down the hall.

	One cat-like woman purred and said, "The tall one's mine."

	Another growled and asked, "Which part?"

	"All of him." replied the other.

	"Can you handle all of him at one time?" pouted another. "Aren't you going

to share?"

	"Hmmmm...to answer the first question:  I can do my best.  To answer the

second question:  No." said the one as she crept closer to Qui-Gon.

	The human who seemed to be the leader said, "Get back missy, he's for all

of us!"

	The one spoken to made a small growl and stepped back one step, but she

kept her feral eyes on Qui-Gon.

	A hand reached out toward Obi-Wan.  A soft voice said, "This one with a

sweet face and big dark eyes."

	Obi-Wan felt a light touch on his face.  He turned and his eyes met those

of a human woman in lust.  He instinctively stepped closer to his master and

gently bumped into him.  He had received admiring looks before, but never

before had he felt like a mouse being played with by a cat.  By several cats.

	The leader slowly walked around the Jedi, smiling contentedly, scrutinizing

them from head to toe.  "Yes.  This is nice!" she demurred.  She reached out

and ran her hand gently down Obi-Wan's braid.  She resumed her slow walk

around and stopped close in front of Qui-Gon.  With an obviously pleased

expression, she studied his face and form.  "Very nice!"

	"Well!!" she said chipperly as she whirled suddenly and faced the direction

of the hall toward where the miner had gone.  She clapped her hands twice in

happy victory.  "Let's take our captive cream cheese cupcakes to the

cafeteria!  Mustn't keep the lasses waiting!"

	And they all started walking, herding the encircled Jedi with them.

	"May I lay them on my platter and serve them up?" asked a Zeltron in a low

voice.

	"Ooooh!!  A double entendre, Cassy!" exclaimed the leader.  "I never heard

you say that before!"

	"I never saw them before." explained the Zeltron.

	"So true!  So true!" lamented the leader.  "But we have them now!!" she

said happily.

	"What is this all about?!" asked Qui-Gon.

	When the women heard his voice, they sighed and murmured as hungry people

would do when they smell pumpkin pie in the oven.

	The leader growled with tormented pleasure and pulled on his outer tunic

with her teeth.  She let go of his tunic and leaned her chin on his chest

and looked up at his face.  "You'll find out." she said, simply.  Then she

resumed her walk; the group following her.

	"If you must know," she said, as they walked, "Our 'Sisterhood' wants men."

	Qui-Gon said, "This galaxy's full of men.  You don't have to trap and

capture them!"

	She sighed at the sound of his voice and looked back at him as if he were a

cherished moron.  "We don't want just any men, babe.  No droopy panted,

burping pinhead for us, sweet cakes.  We want the top; the cream of the

crop.  We want Jedi!!"

	Obi-Wan was exasperated. "Getting men is what this is all about!?"

	The leader answered him with a smile, "Well how else were we to get Jedi,

lunch meat?  Good thing they sent the male variety."

	Qui-Gon smiled in humor inspite of it all.  "How did you happen to choose

this planet?  Did you throw a dart at a star map?"

	"Oh!  Come now!" exclaimed the leader.  "Give us some credit!  This place

is just a small rock, it isn't under any local government jurisdiction, it

doesn't have a military, and the closest neighbor is Sän, and they don't care."

	Qui-Gon replied, "It's not that they don't care; it's that they can't.  And

after this, I'm going to ask the Council to confer with the Senate to

request the Sän government to amend their treaty."

	"Well, anyway," said the leader, "I knew this little orbiting pebble has

enough value in it to make the Galactic Senate take action to defend it.

And we were hoping they'd send Jedi."

	"What if they had sent the military instead?" asked Qui-Gon.

	The leader frowned.  "We had a plan just in case that happened.  We would

have left this planet before the military could catch us, and laid a future

plan to catch Jedi.  But our plan worked to perfection the very first time,

and here you are, ours forever and ever!"

	"Not likely." said Obi-Wan.

	The leader feigned a sad face.  "Awww, don't be such a sour squirt!  You'll

like it!  You'll be living in a way most guys fantasize about."

	"Fantasizing about something, and actually having it can be two different

things." said Qui-Gon.

	"Oh!  You'll be happy!" assured the leader.

	The group approached double doors.  Some members of  'The Sisterhood' were

loitering outside it.  Their attention was awakened when they saw the group

coming, and their eyes sparkled when they saw the two handsome men.  They

half ran, half skipped up to the group.

	"Are they Jedi?" asked one excitedly.

	"As big as Love." answered the leader.

	They crowded in to touch the Jedi.  "Oooooo!  Nice!!"

	Obi-Wan squeezed as close to Qui-Gon as possible.  The leader said to one

of the alien women, "Pick your tongue up from off the floor, Mauhry!  It's

undignified!"

	Each woman who was in close proximity to the Jedi, refused to give up her

place, and the women struggling to get closer refused to give up, so that,

when the group tried to go through the double doors to get into the

cafeteria, it couldn't squeeze through.  It was made worse by the women in

the cafeteria crowding around to meet them.

	Exasperated, the leader yelled, "Alright everybody! Get back!!  G e t  b a

c k!!  No, not you, sugar cheeks!" she said as she grasped Qui-Gon's hand.

	The group eventually managed to pass through the doors like sand through an

hour glass.

	The cafeteria also served as an auditorium and meeting place for the

miners, and at one end of the large room was a simple stage or dais raised

one and a half feet higher than the rest of the floor.  The leader had

grabbed tight the hand of both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan and dragged them through

the delighted, grasping crowd of women, and pulled them up onto the stage

for all to see.

	Well Ladies!" called the leader, "We caught ourselves some Jedi!  What do

you think?"

	The resulting ruckus from the outlaw gang was almost deafening as the women

whooped and whistled, cheered and clapped, sprinkled with loud crude

expressions of sexual appetite.

	Qui-Gon, who already had a glint of humor in his eyes, burst out laughing.

Obi-Wan was blushing furiously, and he looked at his master, wondering what

was so funny.  He telepathed to Qui-Gon, <When are we going to make our move?>

	<In just a little while,> returned his master.  <We need to make sure

they're all here in this room.>

	<You're enjoying this, aren't you?> asked Obi-Wan.

	<This isn't exactly bruising my ego.> answered Qui-Gon.

	<As if your ego had ever been bruised, Oh Favorite of Yoda's!> smirked Obi-Wan.

	<Oh, it's been bruised.>

	<Yeah?  When?> asked his apprentice.

	<Ohhhhh.......................I can't remember offhand.  I'm sure it

happened though.>

	"Wipe that smirk from off that pretty face of yours, or I'll kiss it off

you!" threatened one of the women at Obi-Wan.

	"I'd like to envelope that laughing stud-muffin with my arms!" sighed

another as she drooled at the older man.

	"I tell you what." called another woman.  "You put him in your arms and

I'll put me in his arms."

	The other woman thought about it.  "That doesn't make sense!" she said.

	"Yes it does!" replied the other, "Do you know any acrobatics?  I'll show

you." and she moved toward the stage for Qui-Gon.

	A ground-swell of women started moving toward the Jedi.

	Qui-Gon took an involuntary step back even though he was still mirthful.  A

hint of blush crept into his face.  He was thankful he was a Jedi.  He could

get himself out of this situation when he wanted.

	Obi-Wan was not comfortable.  Never in his twenty-one years had he

encountered this kind of ribald rudeness.  At least, not in real life.  And

not in the thick of it.  There were episodes in his life when he realized

that he led a comparatively sheltered life, growing up in the Jedi Temple.

This was another one of those episodes.

	The leader, in a commanding voice said, "STOP!!  STAY WHERE YOU ARE!!"

	One woman in the front of the crowd stepped one of her feet up onto the

stage.  Her eyes had fire in them.  "Well?  Why are those sweetmeats just

standing there?  Let's have them!!"

	Qui-Gon lost the mirth in his face and he stepped back another step.

Obi-Wan did the same.  The lust in those women was turning dark, and the

humor was disappearing.  The leader tightened her grip on the men.

	"Wait a cotton-pickin' minute!!" demanded the leader.  "They can't just be

thrown into you like meat to dogs!   They're not to be hurt or killed!!

They're our permanent love slaves and they are going to be dished out in a

safe manner so that ALL will get to enjoy them!  In one piece!!"

	Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan.  <Get ready Padawan, the action is about to

start.>  The double doors started to slowly and silently close, under the

influence of the Force.  The one other exit was being locked.  Also through

the Force, Qui-Gon pushed a concealed button that signaled the Brianna.

	One alien woman growled, "I don't want to hurt them; I just want to devour

them!"

	The leader looked at her:  "Like you did your husband?  He's dead!"

	"I don't mean like I did to my husband," assured the woman, "I wanted a

divorce, and he wouldn't cooperate.  I merely followed tradition."

	Someone in the crowd whined, "Who's gonna be the first to get them?  And

for how long?"

	The leader answered.  "Everybody will put their names in a bowl, and

everyday two names will be drawn.  Those two names will have the Jedi for

that night.  Which reminds me; were are the collars?"

	"Here they aaaaaaaaare!" sang one woman somewhere toward the back.  She

came forward through the crowd carrying several jeweled collars with wrist

cuffs attached to them with chains.  	When she reached the stage, the leader

said, "Let's pick out the prettiest for our boys."  The woman who brought

the collars set them on the stage to spread them out.  The leader knelt down

to inspect the collars while still holding on to the Jedi, forcing them to

kneel too.  Women were reaching toward them to caress their faces and hair.

	Through the fondling and cooing, both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan studied the

collars with curious, and somewhat morbid, fascination.

	The leader chose.  "Oh yes!  those.......and.................those."

	The woman held the chosen collars up.  The leader said,  "Betty?  Xandra?

You may put the collars on our gorgeous hors d'oeuvres."

	Giggling, Betty gave one of the collars to Xandra, who took it with a

pleased growl.  Smiling wickedly, Xandra held it up toward Obi-Wan and

rattled the chains to angst him. 

	Obi-Wan looked up at Qui-Gon with a pitiable expression on his face.  <Now?>

	Betty had a devilish fire in her red eyes as they penetrated into

Qui-Gon's.  Her giggling turned into a low concupiscent rumbling as she

moved closer.

	Qui-Gon's countenance turned somewhat pale.  <Yes, Padawan.  To the pipes.

Now.>

	With a relieved laugh, Obi-Wan suddenly shot up toward the pipes at the

ceiling.  Qui-Gon had jumped at the same time as his apprentice, but the

leader grabbed his ankle almost faster than conscious thought, the speed of

which impressed Qui-Gon.  With strong resolve, the leader stopped his

ascent, amid screams of excitement from the women as if they were an

audience in a gladiator show.  Qui-Gon strengthened his own force of will,

and they both started rising to the ceiling. 

	Women grabbed on to their leader's ankles and they too started rising.  The

excited, screaming din continued.  As women rose, other women grabbed onto

their legs and ankles until it looked like an ant tower rising determinedly

toward the ceiling. 

	As Qui-Gon reached a pipe and grabbed at it, Obi-Wan, who was lying on a

large pipe like a contented jungle cat, casually pointed to his master's ankle.

	A scream of surprise came out of the leader as a painful jolt of

electricity jerked her hands off from around Qui-Gon's ankle.  She and the

whole ant tower went tumbling down.

	Obi-Wan grinned down at them with glee.

	Qui-Gon perched on top of his pipe.  "You waited an awful long time before

you helped me."

	"Just dishing out what you teach me, Master." said Obi-Wan with wicked

happiness.

	Qui-Gon snorted ruefully.

	Struggling to her feet and gasping with anger, the leader snapped her eyes

up toward the two Jedi.  "I'm going to get you, my beauties!!!"  She looked

around angrily for a blaster, saw one and walked toward it.  "I knew about

Jedi.  I knew they were real.  But I didn't know the tales told about their

abilities were true.  I thought those stories were mythical and fanciful!"

She grabbed the rifle-blaster and made sure it was on 'stun'.  Obi-Wan's

eyes widened.  The leader slammed the butt of the rifle down on the floor in

defiance, then hefted it into her arms.  "O.K., Ladies!  Stun them off the

ceiling!!"

	The Jedi closed their eyes in concentration.

	All around the room, triggers clicked as fingers squeezed.

	Nothing happened.

	Triggers were repeatedly pulled.  Still nothing happened.

	"What is this!!!" wailed the leader.  The Jedi were smiling.  She jerked

her head up toward the Jedi.  "DID YOU DO THIS????"

	Qui-Gon wiggled an eyebrow.

	She pointed a finger at them.  "You're not going to get away!!  You're

OURS!!"  She looked around the cafeteria for a way to get them down.

	The sound of armored-booted feet abruptly came from the hall outside the

double doors.  More sound came from without the other door.

	Obi-Wan grinned as Qui-Gon used the Force to open the doors.

	"FREEZE!!!  YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!!" yelled the commander as members of the

Galactic Military Police poured into the cafeteria.  Some of the women

screamed.  Others considered challenging the police with their own weapons,

but the look of deadly earnest on the well-trained peacekeepers put an end

to the challenge before it was begun.  The outlaws' weapons would not have

worked anyway; the Force effect was still on them.

	"Aww bugger!!" cursed the leader.  She looked woefully up at the Jedi as

the police proceeded to place wrist cuffs on her women. 

	The Jedi floated to the floor.  They should have waited just a little while

longer.  One of the women, not yet cuffed, jumped up and grabbed Qui-Gon

around the neck and slammed his mouth into hers.  She kissed hard, and

before she could get pulled off, she bit her teeth in.

	"Oouuu!!"  His voice was muffled in her mouth.

She finally popped off him as two policemen pulled on her.  They cuffed her

wrists, but she had a look of satisfaction on her face.

	The leader muttered with a bit of jealousy, "One of us got some at any rate."

	A wound started bleeding on the left corner of Qui-Gon's lower lip.

Obi-Wan gently touched the small wound with his finger and it stopped.  He

used a cloth to wipe away the blood.

	"Did she hurt you more than this?" asked Obi-Wan.

	"No.  Thank goodness." uttered his master with a sigh.

	The whole gang was now cuffed and being herded away.  The commander walked

up to the two Jedi and touched her helmet in deference.

	"Thank you again, for your cooperation." she said.

	"Thank you for your help!" said Qui-Gon.  She acknowledged, turned, and

joined her troops.

	The police, with their prisoners, filtered out of the room.

	Obi-Wan smiled, puffed out his chest, pointed his finger dramatically to

the ceiling and said in a mock narrator's strong voice,  "Yes!  Another good

deed has been done!  Another brilliant plan has been carried out against the

Bad Guys of the Galaxy, by our heroes, yours and mine, the wonderful, the

great - " he imitated the sound of a rather sickly trumpet....

	"Hush!" laughed his master.  "Someone's coming!"

	Obi-Wan surrounded himself with the aura of refined dignity.

	True to Qui-Gon's Force senses, the Jedi weren't alone for long.  Some of

the miners came into the room, and in awe, approached the mysterious cloaked

Jedi and thanked them, while others were in the halls, smiling gratefully,

watching the parade of prisoners and police go by.

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	After a rather long time of shaking hands and accepting thanks and politely

turning down dinner, the two Jedi were finally inside their shuttle.

Obi-Wan was in the pilot's seat.

	Zen and Teilor were notified, and the engines were started and were warming

for takeoff.

	"I'm hungry." said Obi-Wan.

	"You just turned down dinner!" said Qui-Gon.

	"I know." said Obi-Wan.  "That's because I want to eat in peace."

	The shuttle's console indicated it was ready for flight.

	"I would like for us to go back to that cafe tomorrow." said Obi-Wan.

	"It's a nice cafe." agreed Qui-Gon.  "I'll see if we have free time tomorrow."

	Obi-Wan nodded in confirmation.

	As miners around the docking bay saw them off, the shuttle lifted off into

space to meet the Brianna.

Alice J. Capen